India Maldives Relations

Maldives is an important member of SAARC. It is strategically located along major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of world trade takes place through the Indian Ocean. All the energy supplies coming from Gulf nations pass through this area.

Geo-Strategic Importance of Maldives to India:

Located at the southern and northern parts of this island chain lies the two important sea lanes of communication (SLOCs).
These SLOCs are critical for maritime trade flow between the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Hormuz in West Asia and the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia.
These are of vital importance for India since nearly 50% of India’s external trade and 80% of her energy imports transit these westward SLOCs in the Arabian Sea.

Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region: Maldives plays a major role in India’s ambition towards Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region. India continuously aims at promoting an ever-expanding area of peace and stability around it.

Areas of Cooperation:

Security Cooperation: Through the decades, India has rushed emergency assistance to the Maldives.
Operation Cactus: In 1988, when armed mercenaries attempted a coup against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, India sent paratroopers and Navy vessels and restored the legitimate leadership under Operation Cactus.

- Disaster Management: The 2004 tsunami and the drinking water crisis in Male a decade later were other occasions when India rushed assistance.
- At the peak of the continuing COVID-19 disruption, the Maldives has been the biggest beneficiary of the Covid-19 assistance given by India among its all of India’s neighbouring countries. When the world supply chains were blocked because of the pandemic, India continued to provide crucial commodities to the Maldives under Mission SAGAR.

People To People Contact: Maldivian people attend educational institutions and uses the health care facilities in India.

Tourism is the mainstay of Maldivian economy. The country is now a major tourist destination for some Indians and a job destination for others.

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Issues in India- Maldives Relation:

Political Instability: India’s major concern has been the impact of political instability in the neighbourhood on its security and development.
Radicalisation: In the past decade or so, the number of Maldivians drawn towards terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based madrassas and jihadist groups has been increasing.
China Angle: China’s strategic footprint in India’s neighbourhood has increased. The Maldives has emerged as an important ‘pearl’ in China’s “String of Pearls” construct in South Asia.
- Given the Maldives’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, there are speculations about China trying to develop strategic bases in the archipelago.
- In 2014, an agreement with GMR(Indian Company) to built an airport in Mali was withdrawn by the Maldivian government.

Way Forward:

With India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, India can play a major role in the development of Maldives. However, for adherence to strategic comfort in relations, Maldives on its part should abide by its India First’ policy.

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